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BLITZER BLOG: Poll numbers should alarm Dems
Las Vegas (CNN) – There are some numbers in our new CNN-ORC International poll that should seriously worry President Obama and the Democrats.
Republicans are right now a lot more enthusiastic about voting in the next election than Democrats. Some 64% of Republicans say they are extremely or very enthusiastic compared to only 43% of Democrats.
There were similar numbers in the 2010 mid-term elections and we know how well the Republicans did in Congress, including re-taking the majority in the House.
Democrats, by contrast, were much more enthusiastic in 2006 and 2008, and that certainly showed in the elections then.
But for the president, there may be an even more alarming number.
Among all voters, 59% think that President Obama’s policies will fail compared to only 36% who say they will succeed.
In 2010, 47% thought the president’s policies would fail. And back in 2009, only 32% thought the president’s policies would fail.
You see the trend, and it’s not good for the president’s re-election prospects.
There is still plenty of time for the president and the Democrats to turn this around. But that won’t be easy unless people start seeing some light at the end of the economic tunnel.
NOTE: Wolf Blitzer is anchoring “The Situation Room” from Las Vegas ahead of Tuesday’s Western Republican Debate, moderated by Anderson Cooper at 8 p.m. ET on CNN.
RELATED STORY: CNN Poll: Record high say Obama's policies will fail
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Post by: Filed under: 2012 election • Barack Obama • Wolf Blitzer |
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it better. Thank you for your euoelqnt and accurate commentary.I agree: Obama is a moderate Republican; he is not a Progressive Democrat. So it's time to vote him out of office, even voting for a Republican since the difference between Obama and Romney would not be great: both had the same health care plan, which sucks; both will implement tax breaks for the super rich and corporations; and both will not create any jobs.In fact, Romney may not be as much of a hawk as Obama: Obama has increased our military presence abroad.It's time for all Progressives to send a protest vote to the DNC. If it gives us Republican look-alike candidates, we will vote Republican. We do not need two Republican parties in this country, the only difference being that the Democratic version is just a tad more liberal on its social issues, but still represents Wall Street, the super rich, and the multinational corporations.
I'll bet that if you ask the same question about his policies working, for Gingrich, Cain or Perry, you would get even lower numbers, and if Romney is the candidate the enthusisam factor will plummet......lucky for Obama, this is the least liked group in my memory, both by Democrats and Republicans.
Of course Obama's policies are going to fail if the U.S. Congress continues its all out efforts to defeat every single piece of legislation he introduces. Without compromise and a true bipartisan effort to cure this country's ills, we're all doomed, not just Obama. It's amazing how the Republican (Tea) Party can be so unpatriotic and think they can get away with constant obstructionism. I believe the voters are alot more intelligent than the Republicans think and will eventually vote for Obama in 2012. After all, this crop of Republican presidential candidates are not only dysfunctional, but also very very scary!
Republicians kill every piece of legislation he introduced. Job Killing deficit increasing Obama Care, Frank and Dodd, and the kist goes on. It is his legislation that he got passed that is killing us.
We sent them there in 2008 to Obstuct the Presidents Socilist Policies and wealth redistribution...JOB WELL DONE...and in 2012 re will send MORE reinforcements and a NEW President that BELIEVES in Capitalism and LIBERTY
It's surprising that you've linked Capitalism and Liberty. Capitalism is fueled by centralizing power in the hands of whoever has the most money. I would agree that in a perfect world capitalism would simply be advancing our society and improving everyone's life. Unfortunately, i live in the real world where capitalists have discovered that they can buy elections, enact their own beneficial legislation and reap profits from success without paying for failure, or even the basic costs extracted from our natural resources and dumped (via pollutants) onto our healthcare system. Which I then am forced to subsidize with my tax money. A real entrepreneur would find a business model that would allow ordinary people to opt out of corporate serfdom.
If Obama keeps flirting with the so-called Wall Street Protesters it will end up to his disadvantage. This "movement" is a collection of malcontents stretching from the far left to the left - from anarchists and Marxists to professional agitators and some well meaning democrats. The motley collection does not reflect mainstream America, no matter how much the "mainstream" media tries to portray them, thus. It reminds me of the nasty crowds that thronged Chicago during the 1968 democrat convention and McGovern's army of the left in 1972. What disasters they were. Obama has enough problems plaguing his administration and governance without adding this ingredient to the bubbling cauldron of mistakes.
There certainly are several outrageous statements here that defy facts. President Bush never blamed anyone for anything – even in retirement he does not play the blame game. Can the same be said for Carter and Clinton? Pres. Obama is not enduring nearly the level of partisan attacks that Pres. Bush had. Bush never ridiculed opponents as Obama has. The Dems had majority control of both Houses for Obama's first two years in office. They could have passed any legislation Obama requested yet could not even pass a budget, oh Obamacare did pass which the majority of Americans disapprove. Yet despite this glossed over fact the GOP have been called obstructionists. Many of you seem to conveniently forget Dems were in control of both Houses, that and along with liberal activism was the root cause of the housing and financial markets going bust. Bush had warned that there were enormous problems on the horizon with the risky loans backed by the FHA. No one listened and accused anyone of voicing these concerns as racist.
Obama received a vastly greater amount of campaign contributions from Wall Street than McCain. GE, Google, Microsoft, etc. have the Dems in their back pockets, yet the GOP is demonized as the party of fat cats and the redneck party (two labels Dems throw about that have no intelligible connection). Cronyism during this admin as at an all time high. The DOJ has proven to be completely incompetent and racist (yes, racism runs both ways) from day one of this admin.
I, among many, do take into account that Dems are the party of intolerance i.e. shut down free speech if oppositional, use personal attacks when they cannot debate the issues, have out of control protests where apparently the majority of participants do not know why they are protesting except that it seems like a great big party, encouraging minorities to be victims, party of peace that calls for violence against opponents. I could go on and on with examples of hypocrisy.
I do have one personal shot of a general nature: Dems are reminicent of schoolyard bullies that run crying when their self proclaimed authority is questioned.
P.S. I use my actual name on posts not some silly innominate title.
Trish, your post hit the nail on the head! Compare the Occupy protests to those of the Tea Party. The Occupy protests were violent and afterwards, trash was strewn about and many more dollars were spent cleaning it up. Many of the Occupy demands are way out of left field. One of them to raise minimum wage to $20/hr, is just unattainable, besides lack of any common-sense. We all know if $20/hr minimum wage would cause inflation to sky rocket because of the increase of cost to pay employees, besides the fact that the unemployment rate would also skyrocket because employers would no longer be able to afford those ridiculous wages. The Tea Party on the other hand was for the most part, peaceful and their demands matched with the demands of modern-everyday Americans. After their protest, there was no trash and it ended as peaceful as it began. I am voting against Obama and for the GOP candidate, whoever that is. Keep in mind, I really don't really follow any party, but vote who would make the best leader and Obama certainly is NOT that person.
If he's doing so bad, why in all recent polls is he ahead of Romney or tied. Check out poll summary at RealClearPolitics
Poll numbers follow a certain pageantry; 1000 days in is usually the nadir, where we send the message to the current guy that there are others chomping at the bit for his job and that he had better be in rare form, while at the same time knowing that the anti-incumbet field is locked in and we are now free to compare virtues. If Obama's numbers begin improving within the next few weeks it should indicate he's won the popularity contest and that it's largely downhill from here on out. This chart should give democrats some solace and republicans pause: http://www.visualizepolitics.com/2011/10/healthy-tradition.html
Obama wants to turn the USA into a western European Socialist state. Doesnt work there. Wont work here. Luckily, we have plenty of empirical evidence across the pond. Long live free enterprise capitalism...elect Herman Cain and a GOP Congress and just like Reagan, this country's econonmic engine will be put into high gear. Many of these Occupy Wall street kids will become republicans for life.
Those that think both parties are corrupt, in the pockets of the corporations, etc.; I think you have some merit, after all; “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. But both are not the same and I show some stats to back that up.
But even if you are correct that both parties are bad, logic would say- don’t give these people more power (i.e. more money).
There was a time in this country were politicians didn’t openly say they were going to raise taxes, but now they’re very blunt about it. That’s because we now have a near entitlement majority, providing a large voting block that welcomes increase taxes as long it doesn’t affect them, and they get to keep their entitlements.
We certainly have lots of problems, but no problem is bigger that the ever increasing size and scope of the federal government. And Obama is all about increasing government; don’t listen to his words, look at the facts; 3 yrs in office; $15 trillion in debt, $4 trillion in deficits.
Do you honestly think the federal government needs more money?
We are the only ones that can fix this, and it can be done, as long as we all pitch in.
The stats on Dems versus Repubs;
** In the history of our federal government:
5 Representatives have been expelled. All 5 were Democrats.
14 Senators have been expelled. All 14 were Democrats.
21 Representatives censured. 16 Democrats, 5 Republicans.
7 Senators have been censured. 4 were Democrats, 3 were Republican.
2 Presidents have been impeached. Both were Democrats.
The troubling facts: 80% Democrat offenders, 20% Republican.
The US desperately needs a third party. Obama isn't going to win the next election. And God help us if the GOP takes complete control again.
You MUST be a democrat. The third party assures Democrats of victory. Just look around and see what a third party would do. You get it? You are either too smart or too dumb to get it. When all is considered, one party is bad two is better and three is Italy.
please stay in Austin, unless you move back to New Jersey. a few more republicans in
the legislature and we can finally get that fence around austin
If a Republican has to win, I'm rooting for Michelle Bachmann or Herman Cain. That would be really entertaining at least.
I voted for Obama and I'm disappointed that he hasn't taken on the Republicans. Wall Street regulation was so watered down that nothing was fixed. I don't blame him for Iraq, but I wish he had done more to discourage offshoring jobs and limit H1B visas for foreign workers. I'm not enthusiastic, but I'll still go vote for him even thought I'm in Texas and it's pretty much a waste of time.
Just because I'm not "enthusiastic" doesn't mean i want to just give up and let the Republicans and Wall Street take over the country even more. If I was a Republican, I would be hoping that Obama wins again, otherwise they'll be in the same boat in 4 years, taking the blame for everything. It's not going to get better because the jobs are being created in China and India, not here. In 4 years, everyone will just be mad at the Republicans.
Obama DID DO SOMETHING regarding ofshoring–he closed down drilling in the Gulf. Now all those jobs and useful crude oil is gone–perhaps for good because the drilling rigs don't just hang around; they go where they're wanted.
He's already proved himself to be a horrible failure. We don't need a poll to determine that anymore.
DWinMadison:
Ignorance and lack of education are the real cancer of America. another brainwashed weak mind repeating like a trained parrot talking points from political pundits on cable tv. Do you understand that Democrats had a filibuster-proof senate for 3 months?? Between June 2009 when Al Franken was confirmed by the Supreme Court and August when Ted Kennedy died? Not a year. Really sad to see how ignorance is sinking America!
Actually Paul Kirk filled in for Kennedy until Brown won.
You know, it doesn't matter who gets elected in 2012. We're all screwed either way. That party will just spend 4 years blaming the other. Politicians and the media have a great way of turning us against each other. Notice everyone on here is a Republican or a Democrat. Yet to see an American.
After a failed Stimulus, Record Deficits, Persistent Unemployment and an unwanted Health Care Entitlement shoved down it's throats. 'Americans' said enough. Yes, they said it in 2010. They also said it in 1994. The difference is that in 1994, Clinton said the 'era of big government' is over and by receiving the message and changing his policies and working with those Congresspeople who were put there by 'Americans' he was subsequently reelected in 1996. This time around, Obama has not chosen that route, he has veered even harder to the left and is doubling down on the same failed policies that gave him his 'shellacking' in 2010 and egging on a poisonous class-envy populism that has no intention of 'compromising' or recognizing others, like rich people, as 'fellow Americans.' You see, there is no longer any room for compromise. Nothing's going to get done that way. One side has proven that it is flat wrong. One side is right. 'Americans' want change. Clinton understood he had to change, Obama doesn't. We can't have change unless we get rid of Barack Obama. It's that simple.
What has the Republican party ever done for the middle class? The last time the Republicans were in power, the hugh surplus left by the previous Democratiic administration was squandered on two unnecessary wars that we are still trying to extricate ourselves from not to mention the condition of the country by the time they were through with it. The Republican party longs to scrap Social Security and Medicare so we can all be on our own, no matter what we have contributed in the past. The Republican congress has done nothing for the country during the past three years in it's enthusiasm not to cooperated with President Obama. A Republican President? No thank you.
Two unnecessary wars?
Iraq might be debatable, but Afghanistan wasn't (and isn't). That's where Bin Laden and Al Qaeda were based in 2001. It's also the war in which Obama decided to mount his own surge in 2009.
Ten years later, things look very different than they did in 2001 (when almost almost every member of the House and Senate authorized Bush to use force against AQ in Afghanistan).
Don't forget that the Democrats endorsed regime change in Iraq in 1998 when Clinton was in office and Bush received considerable support from Democrats prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Last but not least, had Clinton had the guts to go after AQ in Afghanistan following the 1998 African embassy bombings (instead of firing cruise missiles at empty tents in the desert ) or after the USS Cole bombing in 2000 (no retaliation at all for that one), 9/11 might have been prevented from happening.
The point is that both parties made serious mistakes over a long period of time by failing to deal with Islamic terrorism. The chickens are still coming home to roost as a result of those failures and they probably will be for quite a while into the future.
It's amazing how much you learn about people from looking at these posts, somewhere along the line we became a country not dependent on ourselves, but trying to live at the expense of everyone else. You talk about the middle class, and what republicans have ever done, what have you ever done for yourself? The failed social welfare state of the past 40 or 50 years has systematically destroyed our wealth, will, and blinded us to what is really going on. Bastiat said it best "The State is the great fiction through which everyone endeavours to live at the expense of everyone else."
This is where the TeaParty folks in Congress fit in..... Just because they function under the label "Republican" , does not mean they are going to legislate and vote like republicans. They ARE the other party. This is why they have been maligned by Reid, Pelosi and the media
Big difference between actual surplus and projected surplus. The surplus was a projection not actual.
To those of you blaming the republicans for obama's failure, if you're right, then the Republicans are heroes! I'm very GLAD that Obama and the democratic party have failed. Their Marxist regime would destroy what is left of my country. I'm grateful that the republicans are standing in their way. And I must remind you, the voters PUT those Republicans in the way.
Those same voters put the GOP out of Congress in 2006 and 2008. They might put them back in again in 2012. But they won't stay in long. The GOP got us where we are in the first place.
Pure fallacious bs from the Left.
Both parties got us into the mess we're in, understand that? Not the GOP solely, the Democrats gleefully put us here to in their vote-buying schemes.
Only one Party though is undergoing a purging of the elements that lead to this (the GOP) and it's not the Democrats who wish to continue doing the same things that brought us here, only in overdrive.
So, does the Partisan in Chief really believe those independent voters are going to flock to him when he calls Republicans too stupid to understand his jobs bill? It's not like there's anything new in there.
I would be worried about the GOP taking the presidency except that their offerings for the position are laughably weak.
The reign of Chicago politics is coming to an end. Obama is done, and there's nothing he or anyone else can do about it.
Ok.....Why would we (Democrat/ Independent) be alarmed? Most enlightened individual (as you would call Elite) are not really into all the talking that the GOP has been doing. Their BARKING is about as loud as it's going to get. All of a sudden that have solutions, put it on paper and let me see it. The same candidates are showing up with different faces. John McCain may not be in it this year but Herman Cain has been the reincarnation of the non-sense. Mitt Romney has been around the block and he's back again. We're not going to even discuss "Perry". So tell me, who do we really have to watch? There will not be another Bush this time. Kick Rocks!
Two prdedictions:
The Dems will lose in 2012 but win in 2016. The Republican President win blame the poor state of the economy on Obama as Obama blamed Bush.
Meet the new boss same as the old boss.
Wolf Blitzer, these polls don't mean a thing. This ain't the midterm election where many Democrats took things for granted and stayed home while the redneck base came out in large numbers because they were still angry that America elected a black president. Let's face it, the GOP gave us two unpaid wars, a whole lot of dead American soldiers and the worst economic crisis in America since the Great Depression and this administration is still dealing with the mess along with all the deliberate roadblocks so these polls dont mean shit. Furthermore, what did the GOP do for the American people to win the House of Representatives? Absolutely nothing! And what has the GOP and their Tea Party done for America since regaining control of the House? Absolutely nothing! Wolf the GOP's constant scrunity and criticism of this administration's policies and leadership are not solutions but rather obstacles to progress. Wolf, if any body is worried or scared about the general election it's the GOP. Remember they were scared of a black man running the country? Well, they're so scared and confused that atop their own party is a black pizza man. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.
If you had an argument, you wouldn't need to engage in Ad-Hominem and the usual 'Redneck Racist Republican' hyperbole. Your condescension is typical of left-wingers. All of them act like they know everything, but now that they've run things for awhile, everyone can see that they and their ideals are failures. The Democratic base is not motivated and even some are peeling away from Democrats right now. Democrats voted in massive numbers for Reagan and they can do it for a 'Black Pizza Man', as you put it, or even a polished, semi-liberal Mormon businessman. Condescension only works right when you're pointing out the obvious failures of someone else, but when it's you that's failed after having your turn, you have to defend that record. That Obama can't defend his record will ultimately be his undoing. No amount of elitism–'Breaking the bill down into bits and pieces, so they can understand it' is going to help. That may play well to get the hard-left worked up, but average Americans realize Obama is no longer credible, so they see right through it. Good luck with the 'We're better than the stupid hicks and we know everything' argument. It may make you feel better, but it's not going to win the next election.
Democrats are well versed at blocking progress.... Both parties do the same thing. The only thing now is that no one wants to hear Obama blame Bush. He promised us he was the guy to solve the problems we faced..... and tell me, after 3 years... who is better off? Um.... the rich corporations and those that lead them. No difference from what Democrats say about Republicans.
Wake up people... There is no difference in the long run between these people... Smoke and mirrors.... Our leaders serve their own self-intersest and none carry the attitude of service to the people.
I think the Dems are a little less worse, but you're absolutely right. These people on the boards chanting these political rantings have no idea that they're being led like sheep.
This, from someone who voted for Obama? Now that is funny.
Thank you, I've recently been sechraing for information about this subject for a long time and yours is the best I have came upon till now. But, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you positive concerning the source?|What i don't realize is actually how you are now not really a lot more smartly-favored than you may be right now. You are so intelligent.
The Dems would do themselves a favor by showcasing the many very public statements that GOP leaders have made about "wanting Obama to fail" and "making Obama a 1-term president". Never in my life have I seen such outright partisan politics. When GOPers say their number one priority is making sure Obama is a 1-term president then that clearly shows they are more concerned about politics than the American public!!! It's one thing to have your party benefit from the president's failing but to publicly wish for it and actively work to make sure he fails is truly "unpatriotic" and "un-American".
"But that won’t be easy unless people start seeing some light at the end of the economic tunnel" There's light at the end of the tunnel alright, and it's a BIG freakin' GOP train. I'll see you at the polls.
Your the same kind guy that re-elected bush
Says the guy who voted for Carter II.
The likelihood that Mr. Obama will not get rceleted is very high. Regardless of his great speaking ability, he hasn't shown that he places the good of the people or the good of the country ahead of getting something, anything done. If he is the best we can do, we would be better off with a Republican that we can count on to destroy the country. Once we've hit bottom, like an alcoholic, we may have the determination to rid ourselves of the cancer.How can anyone, who is a true Democrat, support the wealthy and corporations with such tax breaks, continue 2 unneaded wars apparently to not add to the unemployment figures even though they are killing or causing severe injurys to our low paid volunteer mercenaries receive no cooperation from the conservatives yet approve of the continuation of the senate super majority rules? We need you to run in the primary. You are the only one speaking sense and speaking with passion. It should not make a difference in the outcome of this coming election, but it will educate and this is of great importance.
He isn't campaigning yet? Why all the fund raisers he has had so far?
dims won't show up because it's easier to say I WAS A FOOL than it it to say I AM A FOOL
The GOP is only excited right now because Romney hasn't officially won the nomination yet.
Once he does, watch that enthusiasm plummet. Seriously Wolf, you've been around long enough to know that enthusiasm polls before the nomination are a crock.
Maybe those on the right and a bit of the left of the line won't like Romney... But they will show up and vote for him because they are really motivated to get Obama out of office.
Not that it will make any bit of difference in the long run. I find it ironic how many people think one party is better than another.... both parties have done immeasureable harm.... both parties are put in power by enormous wealth.... and at the end of the day... they all party at the same country club with their fat paychecks, retirement plans, and health care. None of the give a rip about the actual citizen of this country. It is all about self interest instead of service.....
Obama was foolish running for reelection.
The people that voted for him feel lied to, and most are refusing to vote for him again, even though they won't vote for Republicans either. Having a fresh new face in the game would have done alot to bolster the democratic party.
Most the people I know are hoping for a new third party to refocus democratic and republican ideals.
Maybe American Elect will provide us with a good alternative to the current two party system.
Bluesnow: That's exactly how I feel. Obama was asleep for 2.5 years and let congress dictate policy. How in the world could I vote for him again?
There's a lot of truth in the matter. What is Obama's plan to curb AGW? And what is its economic impact? Saying you believe in AGW or don't means diddley.
Just think of 2010 elections when the GOP weren"t there to obstruct. Think of most of the other special elections too, and keep telling yourself everything is fine.
His plan? Same as his plan for every other issue–ignore it until his back is gainst the wall, then come up with a half baked plan and complain that the repubicans are obstructionists (of course, the repubs do the same in reverse, and ocmplain that the executive won't cooperate with them).
Go Herman Cain–Obama's WORST nightmare!
One thing the POTUS has over Cain is that Obama's eyes are not red and blood shot every time he appears in public. Neither does he look mean and shifty like Cain does. Mr. Cain's only claim to fame is mediocre pizza. He refuses, like a good fascist to reveal his domestic and foreign policy advisers (most likely doesn't have any) and has use racially charged comments quite often lately including the racist name he uses for his pizza place. We do not need a POTUS that surrounds him or her self with fascist secrecy and bigotry. Period.
Actually, Obama PRAYS for a nightmare like that. Cain's plan to increase taxes on everyone making less than $100,000 sounds pretty good for Democrats! I hope Cain wins. Then we'll see Cain's real plan: 9 electoral votes in 9 states by 9 PM on election night!
Nothing succeeds like success. If people were getting jobs and the economy was responding, President Obama could give one speech a year and win in a landslide. Until that happens, all the speeches in the world won't help his re-election chances.
Um, wow.
While I agree with the analysis, Wolf kind of phoned it in here. Cite two polls and add a paragraph pointing out the obvious?
Like I said. Wow.
The only way we will see the "light at the end of the economic tunnel" is if Obama changes the way he thinks about economics and thus changes his policies.
That isn't going to happen. Marxists don't change.
Have you actually read Marx? Wait, don't answer that.
Marxism didn't get us here. The economy collapsed before Obama took office. Was Bush a Marxist? Is bailing out Banks and insurance companies (Bush), and auto manufactureres (Bush) , Marxism? Is deindustrializing American by offshoring all of our factories, Marxism? Americans know who is selling us out, and it's not "Marxists".
The Republicans better stick with their Baptist, fundamentalist, "Gay people are burning American Flags!" strategy. If they start defending Wall Street, they'll be destroyed.
don't worry the dems will buy votes
How? Your guys have all the money. But you have a better trick: intimidate poor people out of voting. Nice.
It's hard to rate Obama's performance when the congress won't let him do his job. Sure maybe he didn't deliver what he promised, but if that's the case, no candidate shuold make promises at all, considering they may get voted down.
The congress is standing in his way for good reason. If "letting him do his job" means spending another 800billion dollars to add to the other TRILLIONS he's already spent, then letting him do his job is destroying our country. Obama is using games to point fingers and blame someone else, but the fact is blocking this jobs bill is the right thing to do. Another stimulus isn't the answer, no matter what Obama want's to call it.
Since when won't Congress let Obama do his job ? The Dems controlled both houses and the WH for two years, and had to cram their liberal programs down the throats of the unwilling, including many moderate Dems, many who are now out of work since the 2010 election; thanks to Obama, Reid and Pelosi. Obama was too inexperienced to become President and his lack of backbone, voting 'Present' past is showing clearly now.
Did he not have control of Congress for two years? Hmmmmm
Seriously? Dude had a filibster-proof majority for the first year and still has has the Senate. Got stimulus...epic fail. Obamacare...epic fail. Banking reguton...fail. If he'd been any more successful with this agenda, we'd be Greece already instead of a year from now.
He inherited a recession that was in a very real danger of becoming a depression. The Republicans at least acted responsibly before they left. They held their noses and kept the banking industry from collapsing and prevented the domestic auto industry from extinction. Then the birthers took over.
Romney is a corporate tool. The rest of them are just wacko.
Not a good argument. The left wing Elite/Progressives had both the house and senate majorities. Pres Obama had blank checks.
Scare tactics from the democrats are very cunning, but ineffective this cycle .
the president is a Socialist and a Marxist and the goal is to make folks dependent on Big Government. And that means giving up a lot of your freedoms, is that what we want? Is it what you want for your children? To be more like Cuba or China? Read Obma's books and see for yourselves.
Please describe all the freedoms Americans have given up under Pres. Obama.
Conservative "job creators" hate Communism and Islam. How come my TV is made in China and my shirt is made in Pakistan. I guess cheap labor is more important to the "job creators" than communism or terrorism.
People are waking up to what Obama really is....A socialist set on destroying the greatest country ever known.
He can't destroy it. Bush beat him to it. But "greatest country"? All I see is a vicious, vindictive, greedy, mean country whose pigeons are coming home to roost.
The media should lose the bias, toooooooooooooo! I can finally check in to CNN again. The sugarcoated nausea thats been pumped out over the last several years has lost its flavor. No one can stand by failed policy after failed policy. If we voted on platform instead of party and/or candidates with charisma we might be able to get something done. Lets remove all party affiliation and have to read what the individual stands for. This would allow us to vote on issues not party.
Nonsense. Dems are doing a wonderful job. They should rally around this president, like they did to get him elected.
Maybe Dems think he is doing a great job... But many independents disagree! He has wasted so much time, done little to actually lead because he does not possess leadership ability, and has driven us farther in debt with little done to actually solve the problem.
I don't like Repubicans either.... but I am glad someone is saying NO to what is being proposed.
By what possible metric are you using to measure a "good job"?
Very enlightening reading the liberal comments. Obama got elected at a time when his party had control over the house and senate, how on earth could any normal thinking person blame his failure on the other party? The first time the regular centrist people got a chance to voice their opinions of Mr. Obama and his socialist gang' management, they blew the democrats out of the house. Obamas' problems are his and his only. Who voted down his jobs bill in the democrat CONTROLLED senate? Typical liberals incapable of arguing based the facts!
Filibusters stopped him.
Invasion of Iraq. $1 Trillion tax cut. Creation of gigantic deficit. These were the things Obama inherited. The one thing you can rely on with Republicans is their ability to live in denial. Clinton left this country in the best shape it has ever been in and Bush destroyed it in 8 years.
Hey Bad Dog, short memory. The Republican controlled house and Senate forced Clinton to balance the budget.
Forced Clinton to reform welfare. Shot down Hillary Care. Remember Newt's Contract with America? Or..selective memory?
Um, do the math hotshot. bush passed a 2.1Trillion (that's with a T) tax cut, then another 1.7 Trillion (capital T mind you), SECOND tax cut; THEN, if all that wasn't enough, our debts from the wars HE started, that no one wanted come to 3.7 Trillion and counting. So, doing math (not a redneck strong suit) comes to 7.5 Trillion dollars George II cost you. Our debt would be BELOW what it was in Clinton's administration if BUSH had not been installed by the Supreme Court. You have no right to complain about feeling like Obama is running roughshod over you for 2.5 years, when I was mad from day one when Bush was running roughshod over the other 50% of the country. Undo EVERYTHING George II did, and the country will miraculously be on good footing again.
Thanks for your advice Mr. Blitzer. You seem to have figured out very well what the American public wants. Maybe you should run for President – from your analysis, you would win easily.
This column is proof that even a guy who comes in dead Last on an episode of "Jeopardy!" (losing to a comedian and a semi-retired tv actress) can get it right once in awhile.
Amazing! Bush won 2004 election on terrorism threat from Al Queda, where he messes up strategically and tactically to capture AQ leaders and from a self-created crisis in Iraq. He managed to get a pass on the economy, since he inherited a bad economy after the dot com bust. Democrattes and Obama has had huge success with destroying AQ and moderate suhccess with their foreign policy (libya mainly) and were served horrible economy. But Demotcrats has managed to do a horrible job with their marketing. I bet Karl Rove would find a way to win an election simply on the success of capturing Bin Laden.
Wolf, you, all the media and polls are about as ridiculous as it sounds. We have 13 months to go before the election. With the advent of the 24 hour news cycle that is all we hear about, the next election. I think many of you should join the unemployment lines since you refuse to concentrate on news, just the election. I would not think you would give any Democrat a break. Has CNN been bought out by Fox News?
I cant believe people still defend Obama. Look, if you want to judge based on performance, he has been more detrimental to the country than any recent president, not since FDR or Wilson have we had this much of our government undermined as he's doing.
Arbitrary prosecuting from the justice department, gobs and gobs of cronyism paying back everyone that helped affirmative-action him straight to the white house with no credentials or record to speak of, and the little we did know ahead of time threw up huge warning signs.
And no, not because he's black – its because he's an anti-american Progressive who feels that government should be able to guarantee good outcomes for all...oh yeah, and "the rich" (read: anyone mid-middle class and above) will be the ones paying for it!
Its why conservatives love Herman Cain – blackness has NOTHING to do with it – now start judging based on character like MLK taught!!!!
Bush killed the economy along with a bunch of Americans and lots of Iraqis. It was dead before Obama was elected. The truth hurts. Is that why you can't face it?
President Bush protected this country, even nonproductive free loaders such as yourself. Try getting a
real job not living off the work of others.
This president should have been focused on jobs and economy from day one, instead he spent 2 years with a congressional super majority giving us a health care plan we didn't want and which won't reduce the cost of healthcare. That political move in turn lead to the 2010 house change and effectively stalled any hope he had to help jobs or the economy the next 2 years. Having known that this would happen, Obama banked all of his political capital into healthcare at the expense of the economy. That, America, is a failure to lead.
So true.... I had such high hopes when Dem's held the majority only to be completely disappointed in their behavior.... and where was Obama? Where was his leadership? He hid behind Pelosi and Reid.... and was anything but a Commander and Chief.
Very well said!
I could not agree more!
Howdy Ho for president!
gotta agree with you on this.
What kind of government will we have for the rest of time if we reward the republicans for their strategy of obstructing progress and deliberately destroying the country to produce anger? Won't the dems just do the same? If a rep gains the presidency, why won't the dems just use the same manuevers to stop any progress confident that the blame will go to the party controliing the White House?
Scott, have you been living on another planet? Obama had two full years with huge Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate. His problem isn't Republican obstruction. His problem is his own bad policies which have hurt the economy and his liberalism which is out of step with most Americans.
Again, filibusters.
American jobs will not prosper until we have leaders who promote the long-term prosperity of American business–in America. Obama appoints only those who destroy American business, and supports those who do the same.
But nobody is as alarmed as Wolf, which is why he wrote this piece.
CNN has been one of Obama's most loyal backers from the beginning. Such soi disant "anchors"–i.e., News Bunnies–like Carol Costelo don't even try to hide their bias. So why try? Be what you are, CNN, a shill for the Democratic Party. At least then you'd be an honest news/opinion organization.
I voted for Obama in 2008, and I apologize to America for my vote. I believed Obama's bull**** and I am sorry that I did. My healthcare now costs twice as much for less coverage, energy costs 3 times as much, groceries are twice as much and democrat regualtions are killing my business. I wish McCain/Palin had won in 2008. I will never vote for another democrat in my lifetime!!!
Apology accepted......welcome aboard!
To the fools who still keep wanting to blame Bush or the republican congress.
If you hated the Bush policies that got us where we are, keep in mind that Obama put the Bush stimulus on steroids, and now wants more, Obama doubled up on the Bush bailouts for corporate America, Obama used the Bush Iraq withdrawal plan, Obama applied the Bush Iraq-troop surge plan to Afghanistan, and Obama extended the Bush tax cuts for the rich. Obama has received more money from Wall St than any president over the last 20 YEARS! Wake up!!!!!
As for the congress, they have been there for less than a year. Did all of our problems start then?
You're making yourselves look like morons every time you blame someone other than your shameless leader.
What's your point? Presidents are a bad thing? Sure.
The policies that Obama and the solidly Democratic congress pursued unobstructed for the first two years were an abject failure. Conservative Republicans could only stand and watch in horror until the 2010 elections. On the ill-conceived, hastily thrown together, strong-armed health care bill, Obama and the Democratic congress showed a contemptible disregard for the will of the people. The spectacle that he, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid put on was horrifying as they ran roughshod over us with backroom bribes, closed door deals and their reconciliation maneuver to ram it down our throats. I will never forgive or forget that reprehensible abuse of power. And the healthcare monstrosity just gets worse with age (….people have finally had a chance to read it and find out what’s in it, Nancy). Perhaps, as has happened with the recent CLASS portion, it will collapse under its own weight and underlying fiscal fabrications.
I say his prescription and policies speak for themselves: Failure. I want a sound, strong country that people and job creators can believe in, not Obama's flimsy house of cards that people feel is about to collapse on them.
Things must be really bad for Obama if CNN is forced to publish such dismal numbers.
Thank God the Republicans did block some of the left's progressive policies. Can you imagine if cap-and-trade had passed? Or another stimulus? The Democratic Party has failed this country.
Regarding the comments on this board blaming the Republicans – well, their just pathetic. The Dems controlled the House, Senate, & White House from 2008-10, and still control two of the three. Face it, Republican obstructionism is not responsible for the failure of your party's policies. Liberals only know how to do one thing well, and that is to deflect blame. Wake up to reality.....
Democrats are disheartened because they are realizing that Obama does not represent hope and change. Instead, he is an example of the corruption and capitalist cronnyism that we need to get rid of in government..
I am not buying in to this polling stuff. First off it ignores that all the polls simply cannot stand the GOP'/Tea Party Congress and when digging in to the facts Obama still has a 42% approval rating which has been holding steady dispite the right wing firing shot after shot at him now for 2 yrs. The Dems don't need to get excited until April next year we have our man in the White House we can focus on work and our families for a while and cleans ourselves of this 24/7 negative media political cycle. Take this same poll next year and you will see the Dems and Liberals and Unions are fired up big time and anything remotely Tea Party is going to be shot down.
Thanks Wolf. Very few organizations tell the truth about the current administration. Obama has been a dismal failure. It's time to move on......
Republicans don't need to get excited yet. They need to remember what we, the American people, have endured with them taking control in congress. We have seen nothing but gridlock. We have wasted out hard earned income on this term of congressmen. Nothing has been done. We have congressmen wanting to take away jobs from people and tear businesses apart. The only people who would agree with their tactics would be the rich and business owners. I don't know about some here but I am actively out there reminding people what has happened and steering them the other way. People in America need to wake up and realize how they vote affects all of America not just their situation.
If we've had gridlock that's prevent Obama from spending more $TRILLIONS on wasted programs, then I'd say their salaries were a great investment and a mere pittance by comparison! (The most productive years we've had as a nation is generally when CONgress can't spend, spend, spend....)
Just as important are the numbers showing that the mainstream propaganda machine is being rejected as the voice of the ruling class and the political system that serves them exclusively. I do not believe that any amount of pro-Obama, pro-goverment propaganda is going to keep Obama from being run out of town. The only thing that will save Obama is if the establisihment GOP succeeds in picking another RINO loser like Romney. Either way, with Obama or Romney, the result will be the lesser of two evils. It's more important to run Senate Democrats out of town anyway. With Obama and a GOP Senate and House, the government will be paralyzed, which provides the best opportunity to prepare for non-violent revolution that will restore freedom and Constitutionally limited government.
Well, if the Dems stopped shoving extremist crap down people's throats and demonstrated some real leadership, the warning might not be necessary.
On the 2012 ballot, Obama's opponent will not be "Republicans." Although the approval rating of the Congress – especially the Republicans – is in the toilet, the approval rating of nearly all senators and House reps is most likely above 50% in their respective states or congressional districts. We hate the Congress, but we love "our" men or women there. They are the exception.
"President Obama's policies have not succeeded, because President Obama's policies have not been enacted. "
To the person who wrote this: what planet are you on???? Ever heard of the stimulus?? The Affordable Care Act?? Those weren't exactly bills limited to renaming courthouses. . . .
And what's with the repeated left-wing claims that Obama is failing because of Republican opposition? Yes, they largely do, but from January 2009 to January 2011, the Democrats had complete control of the system, evidenced by the fact that the two bills mentioned above passed with the combined support of five Republican votes.
Here's a news flash for all of you on the left–I like to keep the money I earn, instead of handing it to a beureaucrat to waste. I don't want the government picking my doctor–my body, my choice, to borrow one your favorite phrases. I think corporations are good things, because when you get down to it, corporations are owned by and pay salaries to people. I like for the U.S. military to go out and kill terrorists, because if it's a choice between us and them, I vote for us. That doesn't make me a nut–it makes me someone who agrees with the concepts that made the United States the greatest force for freedom and liberty the world has ever seen.
Liberals, for whatever reason, simply cannot countenance the thought that their policies are utter failures in a free society. Arrogance has a way of doing that. You guys on the left need to update your talking points–at least give the public something that doesn't make them fall over laughing.
Imagine how bad the numbers for Obama and Dems would be had this poll not radically oversampled Democrats.
They forget Obama had super majortiy in congress and did nothing, The Dems owned congress since 2006 and all they do now is blame Bush. Sooner of later the media and Dems will have to realize the nation is not as stupid as they think we are . They really do know who to blame, as evident in the 2010 elections
Wolf hate the Dems we all know that this poll is garbage put OH,WI,MI,PA,FL in the Dems book the GOVs of these state are on recall notice. OK Wolf
I own a small business. Towards the end of Pres. Bush administration we couldn't get credit to buy chewing gum. It was a good thing for Pres. Bush to bail out the banks for it opened up credit enough for us to survive. It was good that later Pres. Obama got the stimulus passed. My state was on the verge of laying off thousands of workers. The stimulus saved their jobs and opened up credit to many small businesses. My two sons worked at GM. The bailout saved their jobs. Thank you Pres. Obama and Pres. Bush. Now, you all can go back to your mindless chatter while the rich folks take a vacation in st tropez. Pres. Obama is the only one making any sense right now.
Republicans will control the House and Senate after 2012. Let's hope they take the White House as well so we can get on with the business of real job creation and growth in this country that we sorely need.
I am sick and tired of hearing about the Republican-controlled Congress. Remember, the Dems control the Senate and they didn't pass Obama's jobs plan either. Why do you think this is? Because they know it won't work and they don't want to lose their jobs!!
Facts that never seem to make it to stories blaming the GOP for this problem....
FACT – The Democrats took control of the SENATE in 2004 and have control of it since.
FACT – THE Democrats took control of the House of Reps. in 2006.
FACT – The BUSH administration went before the DEMOCRATICALLY controlled SENATE BANKING committee in 2005, waving a red flag about Fanny May and Freddy Mac, stating that thier were serious financial manipulations going on there. DEMOCRAT SEN CHRIS DODD jumped all over the BUSH people telling them to "Leave Fanny and Freddy alone. They are not in trouble. Over the BUSH ADmin objections, CHRIS DODD RAISED THE AMOUNT of LOANS that Fanny and Freddy BILLIONS of Dollars. WHY> Becasue CHRIS DODDs buddy at Country Wide was selling Billions of these Fanny and Freedy "Bad" mortages on the open market. WHO FINALLY PROCECUTED COUNTRY WIDE, over screaming objections of both DEMOCRATICALLY controlled house and SENATE? THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. How the hell can this financial mess be the fault of the GOP?
FACT – in teh Fall of 2008, right before the election, when confidence of the financial markets were wavering, DEMOCRAT NANCY PEOPLSI lied to Republicans to get them to vote on passage of a Stimulus, to get them to come to the floor and vote. The entire country was watching, because in the previous few days, the stock market was dropping 200 to 300 points a day. RIght before they were to vote, DEMOCRAT NANCY PELOSI got up in front of the congress and spent 30 mins. BLAMING REPUBLICANS FOR EVERYTHING! The Republicans, pissed off because they were lied to, stormed out of the room. WHat happened the next day? THE STOCK MARKET DROPPED 900 pts in ONE DAY. Confidense was DESTROYED. A week later, they were back to vote on it, but it wAS TOO LATE, tHE MARKET DROPPED ALMOST 1800 PTS BY THEN.
THE DEMOCRATS haved controlled both houses of Congress since 2006. 90% of the current 14 Trllion Dollar debt was spent by the DEMOCRATS, not the GOP CONGRESS SPENDS MONEY , NOT BUSH OR OBAHMA. THIS DEBT BELONGS TO DEMOCRATS NANCY PELOSI AND HARRY REID.
Wouldn't he actually need policies that had even a slim chance of working, of delivering economic growth and jobs (rather than payoffs to his voting blocks and economic royalist cronies) to be able "to turn this around"?
Obama you silvered tongue devil, I made the mistake falling for your silver toungued speach in the last election. I will not vote for you in this election!! I will vote for Romney if he makes it if he doesn't and Perry does I will vote for him, if he doesn't make it I will loose my vote and vote independent!!!
the last flopping fish sucking for air in obamas dried up mud hole lol too funny
What planet are you people living on that think CNN is happy this man is a disaster. They were part of the mainstream media cabal that elected this disaster of a president and they hate that he's a failure. But its to damned obvious to hide the fact so they have to admit it when the numbers are as bad as they are now. ANY Republican in 2012, Obama has got to GO!
you unamerican demorats are funny as all get up. i come here to read and laugh thanks for the fun now off to work
I know I would never again vote for this guy. Some people are blindly loyal and that is your right to do so but I see more and more people paying attention and thus becoming Independents. We need to get rid of political "parties" all together. Let men and women simply run on their own.
You think things are bad now, elect Romney, Cain, Perry or Paul and this country will be like India in 5 years.
OH NO WOLF, your daily shilling for the Democrats–disguised as "journalism"–is not working!!! RAMP IT UP!!!
I wonder what the results would be had they asked how many feel that the republicans ideas would fail. They haven't had an idea that worked for the majority of americans and not just the top couple of percent for as long as I can remember.
How convenient to leave out the part where Congress has a 13% approval rating or whatever abysmal number it is this week. CNN always has to placate the right wing with inane stories like this. Of course the President's policies will fail...the Republicans in the House and Senate vote lockstep against every single bill that Obama is involved in. I am sick and tired of the garbage about how much "in trouble" the Dems are. You think the majority of Americans support more tax cuts for the rich; even more breaks for corporations who already pay nothing or next to nothing in taxes; and more burden on the middle class?
Repubs are killing every jobs bill presented because they are a waste of money. There is no long term plan in the bills. What happens when that stimulus runs out, HOPE the economy is better? Obama is so far in over his head its a joke. He didn't create the bad economy but in three years he has not offered a single plan that had any real chance of getting us on the right path. Not passig a budget with full control of congress his first two years show how hard he is trying. You can't tax the rich or spend your way out of this problem. We need sound economics which he has displayed an amazing lack of thus far.
It's funny really, from a conservative point of view, to read the left's comments here. From '08-'10, The Dems had complete control of the US Government. Obama got what he wanted Healthcare and $1T in spending. He got his liberal regulations and there was nothing the Repubs could do about it. So, Obama spends the first year or so wasted on a healthcare bill that is not only coming apart, but will be defeated next year. Then 2010, the American public sends a clear message to Mr. Obama to stop spending and stop growing government and start working on a vision for the economy. Obama promises not to rest and be laser focused. Now, it's the Repubs fault that Obama has failed and that he policies don't work.
Mr. Obama, for all his admirable qualities as a husband and a father, failed on his own. He did not secure the hearts of the American people. They saw, through the debacle of the Healthcare debate, that he is only interested in his agenda, no matter what. Blaming the Repubs for standing up to legislation that has already failed on a grander scale will not change the truth. $450b to rescue government jobs temporarily and taking peoples' money to do so goes against the principle this country was founded on.
I believe people will see through that.
Let me brutally honest here. Obama was never ready to be POTUS. He is a skilled speaker who fed the nation a line of crap about hope and "change you can believe in," and given the economic collapse and the poor candidates the GOP put up to run against him, the voters swallowed the bitter pill. Now we are stuck with a president who is still a gifted speaker but who still does not know how to lead and is taking this nation to ruin. Solution: vote him out in 2012 – and for me, an Independent who voted for him in 2008, the election cannot come soon enough!
This is exactly what happened in '08 while the Republicans were choosing a candidate. Skewed media coverage put all the Republicans in everyone's face, and the Democrats appeared weak early on according to pundits and talking heads like Blitzer. Then McCain was nominated and the rest is history. Wait until the first debate between Obama and whatever trainwreck the GOP nominates to make any serious predictions.
The President was elected. He put forth a trillion dollar stimulus package to get the economy moving. His party was in power. The policy failed to produce jobs. Keynesian economics has been discredited.
This president has failed and now it is time for him to go.
I too was a stooge for hope and change. I was a big Obama supporter. I will never vote for him in 2012. He has been a disaster. He had a supermajority for two years, Democrats have no one to blame but themselves for putting us into an even bigger mess when Obama took office in Jan 2009. Just as I blamed Bush, I now blame Obama. These "leaders" and I use that term loosely, have screwed us.